Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-28
2001-03-20
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
C002S414000, C411S446000, C411S180000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202223
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to protective helmet suitable for use by an occupant or operator of a racing car, motorcycle or the like or for use in sporting activities such as football, bicycling, lacrosse, hockey and the like, and more particularly to a pad assembly for use in this protective helmet and comprising a fastener system which attaches the inner resilient pad to an outer rigid helmet shell.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of protective headgear in various types of sports or hazardous activities is well known. Conventional protective helmets have one or more inner pads secured by fasteners to the inner surfaces of a rigid helmet shell and are generally adapted to conform to the shape of a wearer's bead. One of the problems associated with the use of such helmet arises when the inner pads of the helmet are not properly fitted to the head of the user. Another disadvantage of known helmets is that the inner pads of the helmet are attached by metal rivets which do not permit removal of the inner pads and which may protrude into the helmet resulting in injury to the wearer upon impact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective helmet which comprises an outer rigid helmet shell and one or more releasably attached inner pad assemblies.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved fastener system for use in protective helmet which releasably attaches an inner pad to an outer rigid helmet shell.
It is another object of this invention to provide a novel protective helmet including a helmet shell having one or more pad assemblies releasably secured to an inner surface of the helmet shell, each pad assembly having an integrally formed fastener, and wherein the fastener secures the pad assembly to the helmet shell in a fixed orientation thereby eliminating rotation between the helmet shell and the pad assembly.
In accordance with the present invention, there has been provided a novel pad assembly for use in a protective helmet shell, said pad assembly formed from a resilient material and comprising a back surface defining a helmet shell contacting surface, a front surface defining a wearer contacting surface, and side surfaces connecting said back and front surfaces, said pad assembly further comprising a fastener embedded into said pad assembly and extending outward from the back surface of said pad assembly, said fastener having base means for retaining said fastener to said pad assembly, post means adapted to conform to a mounting hole in said helmet shell, said post means and said mounting hole being of substantially corresponding shape whereby said post means is capable of being inserted into said mounting hole, so that said post means are non-rotatably mounted in said mounting hole.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is a protective helmet comprising an outer rigid helmet shell shaped to protect the top, rear, front and sides of a wearer's head, and an inner pad assembly formed from a resilient material and comprising a back surface defining a helmet shell contacting surface, a front surface defining a wearer contacting surface, and side surfaces connecting said back and front surfaces, said pad assembly further comprising a fastener imbedded into said pad assembly and extending outward from the back surface of said pad assembly, said fastener having base means for retaining said fastener to said pad assembly, post means adapted to conform to a counting hole in said helmet shell, said post means and said mounting hole being of substantially corresponding shape whereby said post means is capable of being inserted into said mounting hole, so that said post means are non-rotatably mounted in said mounting hole, said protective helmet further comprising securement means for attaching said helmet shell to said pad assembly.
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patent: 3720955 (1973-03-01), Rawlings
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patent: 4980110 (1990-12-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5718004 (1998-02-01), Broersma et al.
patent: 1 147 501 (1983-06-01), None
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patent: 32 32 762 A1 (1995-12-01), None
Bauer Nike Hockey Inc.
Calvert John J.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
Welch Gary L.
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